CONSUMPTION OF ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN: A CRITICAL PEDAGOGY PERSPECTIVE.

Abstract

The consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is a global trend, with early childhood and adolescence representing the main target markets. This industry is replacing healthy eating habits at home, as busy work schedules and multiple jobs have displaced parents out of the household, shifting the responsibility of feeding children to shops and supermarkets. Driven by marketing, these supermarkets offer a wide variety of products that have undergone industrial processing and contain chemical additives such as sweeteners, flavorings, thickeners, and flavor enhancers; These products are highly addictive due to their high content of sugars and fats, generating a false sense of satiety at a low cost. Several researches have linked excessive consumption of UPFs with non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. Although nutritional status results from multiple factors, a child without adequate food cannot grow properly or develop the necessary conditions for optimal learning. From Paulo Freire’s perspective of critical pedagogy, there is a call for schools to become agents of change and to guide students critically, so that they develop the ability to inquire, question, and reflect on the problems affecting their environment. The goal is for them to promote, propose, and lead actions that have a real impact on their communities, in favor of social justice and human well-being. From this perspective, students are encouraged to examine the real content of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and their impact on health, unveiling the economic, political, and social structures that move this market. So, they can make responsible dietary decisions and participate in the development of proposals that promote health and well-being in society.